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Maroons make seven changes for Origin II

Johnathan Thurston is expected to return for Origin II after sitting out the first match with a shoulder injury.

Johnathan Thurston is expected to return for Origin II after sitting out the first match with a shoulder injury. Photo: AAP

The State of Origin careers of three long-serving Queensland forwards may be over after the Maroons underwent the biggest team upheaval in 15 years ahead of next week’s must-win game two in Sydney.

Queensland coach Kevin Walters said the Maroons were officially in transition after wielding the axe on Monday, making seven changes and naming four debutants for the June 21 clash.

The Maroons welcomed back fullback Billy Slater after his shock game-one snub and playmaker Johnathan Thurston has finally overcome a shoulder injury that sidelined him for the record 28-4 Origin I loss to NSW.

However, the Origin future of veterans Sam Thaiday, Nate Myles and Jacob Lillyman – who have played a total of 75 Origins – is up in the air after their axing.

They were dumped along with bench backrower Aidan Guerra, unlucky winger Corey Oates, injured five-eighth Anthony Milford and centre Justin O’Neill.

Test winger Valentine Holmes, Melbourne bolter Tim Glasby and fellow forwards Coen Hess and Jarrod Wallace are all in line to make their Origin debuts.

The last time Queensland made six or seven changes to their 17 was way back in game two of 2002.

Thaiday, Myles and Lillyman may pay a high price.

Walters said it was time to inject new blood after the NSW pack dominated the Maroons in Brisbane.

The Blues were dominant in Origin I against a depleted Maroons outfit. Photo: AAP

“It’s no secret we got beat up through the middle, our forwards didn’t aim up, so we’ve made some changes there,” he said.

“For game one we picked a team that won last year’s series and a majority were afforded the luxury to perform in game one and we didn’t get the result that we needed so we went to plan B.

“The transition period for Queensland is right now, not next year or the year after.

“We feel the time is right to introduce some new players who will benefit Origin.”

Slater is expected to slot into fullback with Darius Boyd switching to the left wing at the expense of Brisbane flyer Oates, while Canberra’s Josh Papalii is expected to move into the starting front row for Myles with Cowboys second-rower Gavin Cooper recalled to the Maroons backrow at the age of 31.

Blues name unchanged line-up

New South Wales, meanwhile, picked their first unchanged State of Origin line-up in 21 years.

Brett Morris, Josh Dugan, Josh Jackson, Tyson Frizell and David Klemmer were all named after coming through Monday’s NRL clash between St George Illawarra and Canterbury unscathed.

Boyd Cordner will again captain the side despite being rested for Sunday’s match for the Sydney Roosters due to a knee issue, however the injury isn’t considered serious.

It is the first time since a Brad Fittler-led Blues swept the Maroons in 1991 that NSW have enjoyed the luxury of not needing to alter their team in a series.

In the only alteration to the squad, Manly star Tom Trbojevic will join the Blues camp at The Star in Sydney as the 18th man in place of injured Melbourne prop Jordan McLean.

NSW team: James Tedesco, Brett Morris, Josh Dugan, Jarryd Hayne, Blake Ferguson, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, Aaron Woods, Nathan Peats, Andrew Fifita, Josh Jackson, Boyd Cordner (capt), Tyson Frizell. Interchange: David Klemmer, Wade Graham, Jake Trbojevic, Jack Bird.

Likely Queensland team: Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, Will Chambers, Dane Gagai, Valentine Holmes, Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, Dylan Napa, Cameron Smith (capt), Josh Papalii, Gavin Cooper, Matt Gillett, Josh McGuire. Interchange: Michael Morgan, Tim Glasby, Coen Hess, Jarrod Wallace.

Meanwhile in round 14 of the NRL:

Cronulla Sharks (13) defeated by Melbourne Storm (18)

Manly Sea Eagles (18) defeated Newcastle Knights (14)

Brisbane Broncos (24) defeated South Sydney Rabbitohs (18)

Gold Coast Titans (12) defeated by New Zealand Warriors (34)

Penrith Panthers (24) defeated Canberra Raiders (20)

Parramatta Eels (6) defeated by North Queensland Cowboys (32)

Wests Tigers (18) defeated by Sydney Roosters (40)

Canterbury Bulldogs (16) defeated St George Illawarra Dragons (2)

-AAP

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